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How to Have a Moving Sale
Jul 3, 2025
Host a moving-out sale to earn some extra cash
There’s nothing like packing for an upcoming move to make you realize the amount of stuff you own. You might even start to question how much of it you really need and what to do with the excess.
That’s when a moving sale makes sense. Not only can you declutter unwanted things, but you can make some extra money to help pay for the move. It’s a win-win situation.
Planning a moving sale
If possible, start planning your sale at least 2 – 4 weeks ahead of time. This allows plenty of time to handle all the tasks and can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.
Follow these 4 steps to plan the event:
Check permit requirements or HOA rules
Some towns require permits to host a yard sale. Contact the local city hall office to find out the requirements for your neighborhood.
If you’re part of an HOA (Homeowners’ Association), make sure garage sales are allowed and follow any rules. Find out if a neighborhood sale is planned or if neighbors are having sales on your street to combine advertising efforts and attract more buyers.
Pick the best date(s)
Depending on where you live, yard sales can be popular from April through October. Most people host events on Saturdays, but some sales might start on Thursdays or Fridays and extend into Sundays.
To select the best day(s) of the week, check local ads to see what’s common in your neighborhood.
Remember to check extended forecasts! To avoid bad weather, it’s best to finalize the date one week before.
Gather supplies
Start by saving your grocery sacks for shoppers’ purchases. You can also purchase cheap trash can liners or ask friends and family to help collect bags. If you’re selling fragile things, it helps to save old newspapers or use packing paper to wrap the items before bagging them so they won’t get broken.
Ask for help
Handling everything by yourself can be challenging. Ask for help from your spouse or significant other, kids if they’re old enough, and friends or other family members. Having company and extra hands during the prep and on sale day can make the experience more fun.
Allow friends or family to put in some of their items if they’re willing to help; multi-family sales are usually a hit!
Essential garage sale prep work
Once the sale is planned and the date is set, it’s time to prepare for it. It’s a good time to ask those helpers to step in!
Here’s what to do:
Organize and price items
Separating items into categories and pricing as you go will save time later. You can find premade or blank stickers online or in most discount stores to make pricing easier. If you already have moving boxes, use some to sort items and keep the boxes to pack things later.
Many sellers have success with offering a box of small items (kids’ meal toys, etc.) for free and pricing everything in 25-cent increments to help with making change for cash-paying buyers. Need help with pricing? Try these general guidelines to get started:
| Item | Suggested price range (depending on condition) |
|---|---|
| Clothing | Ask $1 – $5 per piece or offer bundles or bags for $5 – $10. Consider pricing baby clothing lower. |
| Shoes | Price at $2 – $8 per pair. |
| Books, DVDs, Records | Start at $1 or less per item, with higher prices for rare or new titles. Consider offering bundles (For example, five kids’ books for $2). |
| Electronics/Furniture/Tools | Price at 1/4 to 1/3 of the retail value or less for lower-quality pieces. |
| Jewelry | Start at $1 each for costume jewelry, more for nicer pieces or sets. |
| Home Décor | Start at $1 each for smaller items, and ask more for larger, nicer pieces or sets. |
| Toys and games | Start at 25 cents up to $10, depending on the size/condition of the items. |
Advertise and use signage
For a worthwhile sale, customers have to know about it! Post about it on Facebook and ask friends and family to share to get the word out. Share photos of items and notices to local Facebook groups to help draw buyers. If allowed, advertise in any community newsletters to reach those not on social media.
Use bright-colored directional signage during sale days (if allowed in your area). Look for premade signs at home improvement or office supply stores, or make your own with poster board and markers. To direct shoppers, it’s best to place signs at major intersections along the route and use a larger one in front of the sale.
Have multiple ways to take payments
In the past, most yard sales accepted only cash. Now, many people prefer to pay electronically, so taking Venmo or CashApp could help with sales, especially for big-ticket items like furniture or appliances. If you’re uncomfortable using personal accounts for payments, set up temporary IDs.
For cash payments, you’ll need change. To start the day, most people get between $100 and $200 in quarters, $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills. You might want to pick up a counterfeit pen at an office supply store to check paper money.
Have a cash box or bag you or a helper can always keep in sight. If you’ll work alone, choose a zippered pouch or a fanny pack that you can wear to keep money safe.
Sale day tips for success
Now that the day is here, make sure it’s a good experience for customers.
Create a pleasant shopping environment
Buyers prefer organized sales, so help them by neatly hanging or folding clothing and grouping items into categories, like having all kitchen stuff together. Leave wide pathways between tables for easy walking and shopping.
Try playing some music to make your sale more inviting. You can also sell refreshments, like small snacks and chilled bottled water for hungry and thirsty shoppers, especially during the summer!
Be willing to negotiate prices
Folks who shop garage sales are typically looking for bargains. Coming down on the price might make the difference between selling an item and having to dispose of it another way.
Some sellers slash prices in half on the last day of the sale or offer bag deals like $5 for a sack of clothing or books. If you’re willing to negotiate prices, you’re more likely to get rid of everything.
Have a plan for cleanup and leftover things
After the sale, take down any signage for recycling or disposal and delete any online listings to avoid having people show up when you’re all packed up.
Consider donating leftover yard sale items — some charity organizations will even pick up the boxed-up items! Another option is to post the lot for free on an online marketplace.
What can I do if I don’t have space for a moving sale?
Here are some other ways to sell unwanted belongings:
- Host at a friend's place. If you don’t have space, ask to put things in a friend’s yard sale or have an event at their home.
- Rent a space. If you live in an apartment, condo or place that doesn’t allow sales, consider renting a community space.
- Use an online marketplace. List items individually or as lots. Try platforms like Facebook Marketplace and eBay for general items or Poshmark for high-end clothing.
Ready to use your moving sale profit strategically?
If you’re moving to another state, put that extra money from the sale toward a budget-friendly DIY move with U-Pack®. We’ll help every step of the way, from offering flexible moving options to providing a moving checklist to keep you organized.
U-Pack has handled long-distance moves since 1997, and you only pay for the space you use in the moving equipment. That means smaller loads — like what’s left after your moving sale — are cheaper to ship!
Call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant or request a free, no-obligation quote online. If you have questions about hosting a moving sale or U-Pack, let us know in the comments.
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